Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, esteemed colleagues and friends. Yesterday, I had a telephone conversation with Mr Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We discussed various aspects of economic cooperation. I’m very happy with this opportunity to continue the discussion of all these issues today with you, esteemed Mr Minister and the Ambassador of Venezuela. We hope to discuss cooperation in energy, construction, military-technical collaboration and finance. Our bilateral relations continue to expand  in all these fields. We need to specify and coordinate some issues, and I’m very happy to have an opportunity to accomplish this with you today, Mr Minister.

Jorge Giordani (via interpreter): First of all, thank you very much for this opportunity to meet with you and your government team today. On behalf of our president, I would like to convey the best wishes to you and all of your colleagues. The purpose of our current visit is to reinforce our cooperation in many areas and to work together to improve the well-being of our nations. If you will allow me, I would like to briefly discuss the energy sector and our cooperation in this area.